Centrifugal casting-machine



F. E. ROACH.

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED rmza. 1920.

Patented Dec, 21,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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F. E. ROACH.

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1920.

1,3 2, 21, Patentd Dec. 21,1920.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2- FINIS E. ROACH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

cnivrnIrue'AL CASTING-MACHINE.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 28, 1920. Serial No; 362,018.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FINIS E. ROAOH, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Casting-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to dental centrifugal casting machines, and consists in the matters herein illustrated and described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a centrifugal casting machine embodyin my invention.

F 1g. 2 18 a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectlonal.

view, enlarged, of the flask, crucible and associated parts,--the section being taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 on Fig. 4.1. r i Fig. 1 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the dotted line 4-t of Fig. 2.

Fig. is a detail View showing a pull cord adapted for use in the operation of the machine.

6 is a detail view, partly in section, showing a modification in the means for uniting the closed end of the flask to the hooked arm of the machine.

The machine as a whole is indicated by the letter A, and comprises a vertically extending standard or supporting member, and a flask receiving member rotatably secured to the support member. "Thesupport memher comprises a standard 1, mounted upon a base 2, which may be secured to some rigid part, such. as a bench, by bolts placed through the bolt holes 3. The upperend of the support member 1 is T-shaped,-that is to say, it has an elongated tubular head H provided with a longitudinally extending shaft hearing bore or aperture 5, in which the rotatable shaft 6 is journaled, and it has flat or machined end surfaces 44l. The shaft 6 as shown in Figat is shorter than the length of the journal bearing Sand is provided with exteriorly screw threaded ends 7 and 8, each of which, .asshown in Fig. 4, projects beyond the ends 1& of the head H. Each of said screw threadedends 7, 8, is of smaller diameter than the diameter of the shaft 6. 9 is an L-shaped bearing block secured by a key 10 orother suitable means, to a rod 11, which passes through a suitable aperture in the lower-end of the long arm of the block 9. This rodll is bent upwardly and inwardly toward the block .9 to form a,

hooked end 12, andcarries on its extreme end a small, inwardly extending stud 13.

. The upper end of the bearing. block 9 is provided with an aperture adapted tovre- Patented Dec. 21,1920.

ceive a'sliding rod 14. Through the short I end of the bearing block 9 is .an interiorly screw threaded aperture adapted to receive the exteriorly screw threaded projecting shaft end 8. The inner end'of this projecting shaft end 8 is adapted to engage the slidingv rod 14, which preferably will be made flat for a portion of itslength to give a better locking bearing to the shaft end 8. Itv will .be noticed that the rods 14: and

7 of the shaft 6, I secure a pulley wheel 15,

the margin 16 of which is preferably. knurled so as to afford a .convenienthand hold. The pulley 15 1s keyed at 7 to the end 7. The

rotation of the pulley wheel 15 to the right moves the screw threaded portion 8 into the bearing block 9 and thus by binding against the side of the rod 1 1, looks the latter against longitudinal sliding movement withrespect to said block 9, as will be readily understood. i

It is desirable to hold the rod 14:, at times, 111 a horizontal position. To this end, a lock nut 17 resting upon the screw threaded projection 7 of the shaft 6, intermediate the end i of the head H and the pulley wheel 15, is employed. The margin or peripheryof the flange 18 of the nut 17 is also knurled at 1.9, to afford a convenient hand hold to manipulate the nut 17 By turning this flanged nut 17 in the same direction as the pulley wheel 15, e. in the instance shown to the right, the nut 17 is moved longitudinally along the screw threadedprojection 7 until its side face, frictionally engages the adjacent end 1 of the head H, thereby clamping the end of the bearing block 9 against the other end 4: of the head H and locking sired position with respect to the standard 1.

When the pulley wheel 15 is. rotated, i. e. in this instance to the right also, such movement tends to move the screw threaded projecting end 7 of the shaft 6 through the lock nut 17 and to unloosen the lock nut of its frictional hold upon the end 4 of the head H, thereby automatically unlocking the block 9 and permitting it to be roated with the shaft 6.

It will be noticed that there is a slight space 20 between the end of the lock nut 17 and the side face. of the pulley wheel 15, when the lock nut 17 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein the bearing block 9 is shown in its horizontal or clamped position. lVhen the block 9 and the pulley wheel 16 and the intermediate shaft are rotated, a space corresponding to that of the space 20 will be opened up between the adjacent end 4 of the head H and the lock nut 17. Thus the rotation of the lock nut 17 in one direction, say to the right, will lock the parts together as described, and the rotation of the pulley wheel 15 in the same direction, i. e. to the right, will automatically unlock the parts, as before stated.

The rod 14 extends through the bearing block 9, as shown in Fig. 2, on either side thereof, and one end of the rod 14 carries the screw threaded member 21 to which the crucible unit is attached. Said crucible unit embraces an outer end wall 22, a supporting, interiorly screw threaded lug 23 mounted upon the screw threaded member 21 and locked in position by the lock nut 24. Said crucible unit also embraces an interior wall 25, a forward end wall 26 and two side walls 27, 27, and a bottom wall 32. The wall may be brazed or otherwise secured at its margins to the bottom and side walls and the end of the screw threaded member 21 may rest against it, as illustrated in Fig. A crucible member 28 provided with the usual receptacle 29 for molten metal is located within the crucible flask, and at its forward end has an aperture or exit port- 30, which registers with an aperture 31. in the wall 26.

The bottom wall 32 of the crucible unit projects beyond the end. wall 26 to afford a supporting surface 33 for one end of the bottom wall 34 of the mold flask F to rest upon. This flask member is a rectangularly shaped box, more particularly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. At the outer end of the bottom wall 34. an end wall 35 is provided,

' to which the hooked end 12 of the rod 11 is removably attached. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, this is accomplished. by

means of an aperture 36 adapted to receive the flanged pin13 on the hook 12.

The flask also has two longitudinal side walls 38, 38, to which a flanged lid or top cover 37 is hinged at one end, as shown. The mold, designated as a whole by the letter M,

is formed within the flask unit, and the lid 37 closed down before the flask is secured in the position shown in Fig. 3.

When it is desired to place the flask F in the machine, the pin 13 is entered into the aperture 36 in the end of the flask and the rod 14 is moved longitudinally through the block 9 in the direction of the flask until the outside face of the wall 26 presses against the inner edges or margins of the flask unit F, the inner end of the bottom wall 34 resting upon the supporting projecting surface of the bottom wall 32 of the crucible unit. lVhen the parts are thus brought together, as shown in Fig. 3, the

pulley wheel 15 is rotated to the right, which causes the screw threaded end 8 of the shaft 6 to engage the sliding rod 14, and thus lock the rod to the block 9 against free longitudinal movement of the rod and at the same time maintain the flask F in operative relation to the crucible unit.

In the pulley wheel 15 is a pin engaging aperture 39 adapted to receive a pin 40 on 'the one end of a cord 41, a hand hold 42 being secured to the other end of said cord 41. lVhen it is desired to operate the machine, the pin 40 is placed in the aperture 39. The cord 41. is wound about the wheel 15 as indicated in Fig. 1. and then the hand hold 42 is grasped and given a strong pull in the direction tending to unwind the cord 41 from the wheel 15. This unwinding causes the wheel 15 to rotate in the desired direction, until the cord 41 is entirely disengaged therefrom, whereupon, as the wheel continues to rotate, the plug 40 is autoinatically drawn out of the recess 39 and is disengaged therefrom. The wheel 15, however, continues to rotate for some appreciable length of time, perhaps a minute or so. Its rotation causes the rods 11 and 14 and the parts carried thereby, as well as the bearing block 9, to be rotated rapidly about the axis of the shaft 6 as a pivot, thereby generating such centrifugal force as to cause the molten metal. lying in the crucible to be projected by centrifugal force and to flow rapidly through the apertures 30 and 31 into the mold M.

As the wheel 15 is being rotated, it is obvious that the screw end 7 of the shaft 6 will move longitudinally through the nut 17, causing the latter to move toward the wheel 15 and fill or partly occupythe space designated at 20. Thus there will be clearance between the end surfaces 4, 4, of the head H and the flange 18 on one end and the block 9 on the other end, whereby the block 9 will freely rotate with the shaft 6 during the casting operation.

WVhen the latter is completed and it is desired to remove the flask F, the wheel 15 will be reversed to unscrew the part 8 from the block 9, thus unlocking the rod 14 and permitting of its longitudinal movement through the block 9 in a direction away from the flask. This movement will disengage the pin 13 from the aperture 36 in the flask end, and permit the flask to be bodily removed.

It is manifest from this arrangement that flasks of different length, and to some extent, flasks of different size, may be thus locked and unlocked from the position shown in Fig. 3. In order to giveproper counterbalance to the weight of the crucible and flask units when filled, the other end of the slida ble rod 14 is screw threaded a considerable distance, as shown at 43,- and a balance or counterweight 4L4 is mounted on said screw threaded part 43 and held in proper position by a lock nut 45.

It will be noticed, by reference to Fig. 2, that the extension 33 of the bottom wall 32 is relatively wide, to provide a good hearing for the flask unit end to rest upon, and also that the side walls 27, 27, are laterally bent at 46 and then forwardly extended at 4-7, so as to accommodate a flask unit relatively wider than that shown in 2; also that the upper part of the end wall 26 is higher than the height of the flask illustrated (see Fig. 3) and bent forwardly as shown at l8. Thus flasks having heights, widths and lengths different from the rela tive dimensions of the flask F illustrated, may be used in my machine.

Referring now to Fig. 6, I have illustrated another means of removably securing the flask F and the hook 12. A clamp disk or plate 50, having a raised boss w, (the under side of which forms a recess), is

loosely hung on the hook pin 13 which pin passes through a central aperture in said plate and extends into the recess. The plate 50 is secured by flanging the head of the pin 13 as'indicated at 13. The plate 50 is provided with side lugs Y adapted to embrace the side walls 38 of the flask It will be understood that the plate 50 will be sufliciently large, and the side lugs Y so spaced apart as to permit of some flexibility, or relative movement with respect to the flask end when said flask is being locked in its position.

It will thus be seen that by my improved construction, the parts are so arranged that the molten i'netal will readily and very quickly pass through the mold aperture in the flask under the influence of centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the flask and attached crucible; that the flask and crucible may not only be locked together during this rotar movement but may also be held in a horizontal position before rotation, thereby facilitating the handling of materials, the proper positioning of the flask, and the operation of casting. It will also be noticed from the foregoing that the machine will automatically unlock and permit of the rotation of the rods 11 and '14:, the instant that rotation begins.

The machine is neat, cheap to construct, has no complicated parts to get out of order or requiring frequent repair, and is durable and eflicient in operation. Except as made the subject of specific claims, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the preoise details of construction illustrated and described, as it will be manifest that modifications may be made without departing from the principle and spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A centrifugal casting machine comprising a support, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block supported on said shaft, a crucible and flask holding frame comprising two members mounted on said bearing blocks, one of said members having slidable movement with relation to said block, and means for locking' said sliding member to said block.

2. In a centrifugal casting machine having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block supported on said shaft, a flask, an adjustable flask holder comprising a rod secured at one end to said bearing block and having its free end adapted to engage the flask, a second rod slidable longitudinally in said block, meanson the slidable rod for engagement with the flask, and means for looking the slidable rod to the block in any desired position whereby the flask will be clamped in operative position.

3. In a centrifugal casting machine having a support. a shaft rotatably mounted therein, means forrotating the shaft, a bearing block supported on said shaft, a flask, an adjustable flask holder comprising a rod secured at one end to said bearing block and having its free end adapted to engage the flask. a second rod slidable longitudinally in said block, means on the slidable rod for engagement with the flask, the shaft end being adapted to engage the sliding rod and lock the same to the said block.

4. In a centrifugal machine, a vertical sup port provided with a head at its upper end, a shaft journal bearing extending horizontally through the head. a shaft in said journal bearing of lesser length than said hearing, a reduced part projecting from each end of the shaft beyond the end faces of said head, the outside of each reduced part having screw threads extending in the same direction, means on one of said ends for rotating the shaft. a bearing block rotatably mounted on the other end of said shaft, a frame rod slidably mounted in said bearing block, the longitudinal axes of said rod and shaft being at right angles and so arranged that the shaft end may frictionally engage the side of the rod to lock the latter to the block.

5. A centrifugal casting machine, comprising a vertical support having a head, a shaft rotatably mounted in said head, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block movably mounted to the shaft end, a flask, a two part flask holding frame, one part being slidahly mounted on the bearing block, means for locking said movable part to said block and means for locking the block to the support head.

6. A centrifugal casting machine, comprising a vertical support having a head, a shaft rotatably mounted in said head, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block movably mounted to the shaft end, a flask, a two part flask holding frame, one part being slidably mounted on the bearing block, means for locking said movable part to said block and means for locking the block to the support head, said last mentioned means comprising a locking nut mounted on the shaft end opposite the said block.

'7. A centrifugal casting machine, comprising a vertical support having a head, a shaft rotatably mounted in said head, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block movably mounted to the shaft end, a flask, a two part flask holding frame, one part being slidably mounted on the bearing block, means for locking said movable part to said block and means for lockingthe block to the support head, said shaft having a threaded extension on each end, upon one of which said block is carried and upon the other of which an operating pulley is mounted, the screw threads on each extending in the same direction, and a lock nut mounted on one extension intermediate said pulley and the adjacent head end.

8. In a centrifugal casting machine hav ing a support, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block supported on said shaft and a flask, an adjustable flask holder comprising a rod secured at one end to said bearing block and having its free end adapted to engage the flask, a second rod slidable longitudinally in said block, a counter weight on said second rod, means on the slidable rod for engagement with a flask and means for locking the slidable rod to the block in any desired position whereby the flask will be clamped in operative position.

8). In a centrifugal casting machine having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block supported on said shaft and a flask, an adjustable flask holder comprising a rod secured at one end to said bearing block and having its free end adapted to engage the flask, a second rod slidable longitudinally in said block, a counter weight adjustably mounted on said second rod, means on the slidable rod for engagement with the flask and means for locking the slidable rod to the block in any desired position whereby the flask will be clamped in operative position.

10. In a centrifugal casting machine having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted the-rein, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block supported on said shaft and a flask, an adjustable flask holder comprising a rod secured at one end to said bearing block and having its free end adapted to engage the flask, a second rod slidable longitudinally in said block, a counter weight on said second rod on one side of the block and a crucible on the other end of said rod, means on the slidable rod for engagement with the flask and means for locking the slidable rod to the block in any desired position whereby the flask will be clamped in operative position.

ll. In a centrifugal casting machine having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block supported on said shaft and a flask, an adjustable flask holder comprising a rod secured at one end to said bearing block and having its free end adapted to engage the flask, a second rod slidable longitudinally in said block, a counter weight on said second rod on one side of the block and a crucible on the other end of said rod, means on the slidable rod for engagement with the flask, means for locking the slidable rod to the block in any desired position whereby the flask will be clamped in operative position, means on the crucible for supporting one end of the flask and a passageway for molten metal between the crucible and the flask.

12. A centrifugal casting machine, comprising a support, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating the shaft, a hearing block supported on said shaft, a two part crucible and flask holding frame, one of which is slidably mounted in said block, means for locking the sliding member of the frame to said block, a flask and means for removably securing the flask to the flask holding frame.

13. In a centrifugal casting machine having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block supported on said shaft and a flask, an adjustable flask holder comprising a rod secured at one end to said bearing block and having a hooked end adapted to engage the flask, a second rod slidable longitudinally in said block and means for locking the slidable rod to the block in any desired position whereby the flask will be clamped in operative position, and means for removably engaging said hook-end with the flask end.

14. In a centrifugal casting machine having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block supported on said shaft and a flask, an adjustable flask holder comprising a rod secured at one end to said bearing block and having a hooked end adapted to engage the flask, a second rod slidable longitudinally in said block and means for locking the slidable rod to the block in any desired position whereby the flask will be clamped in operative position, and means for removably engaging said hook-end With the flask end comprising complemental engaging parts on the flask end and the hook end.

15. In a centrifugal casting machine having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing block supported on said shaft and a flask, an adjustable flask holder comprising a rod secured at one end to said bearing block and having a hooked end adapted to engage the flask, a second rod slidable longitudinally in said block and means for locking the slidable rod to the block in any desired position whereby the flask will be clamped in operative position, and means for removably engaging said hook end with the flask end, said means comprising a boss on the flask end and a resiliently mounted member on the hook end adapted for engagement With said boss.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I afliX my signature'in the presence of two Witnesses, this th day of February, 1920.

FINIS E, ROAGH.

Witnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, B. L. MACGREGOR. 

